Safety device for portable power-operated fire escapes



July 26. 1927* F. HETzl-:LBERGER SAFETY DEVICE FOR PORTABLE POWER OPBRATED FIRE ESGAPBS Filed Aug.29, 1925 7 sheets-sheet 1 III g mm Ffm/vz Mirza. afnam 1,637 190 July 26 1927 F. HETZELBERGER SAFETY DEVICE FOR PORTABLEY POWER OPEBATED FIRE ESCAPES Filed Aug.29. 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 orneys July 26, 41921..-

F. HETZELQBERGER SAFETY DEVICE Fon PORTABLE APowmfe OPERATD FIRE ascuas Filed Aug.29, 1925. 7 sheets-sheet 3 vbymfw Hita/hays l 637 190 July 26 1927 F. HETZELBERGER SAFETY DEVICE FOR PORTABLE POWER OPERATED FIRE ESCPES 7 sheets-sheet' '4 Filed Aug.29. 1925 July 26 19274 F. HETZELBERGER SAFETY DEVICE FOR PORTABLE POWER PERATED FIRE ESC-APES Filed Aug.z9, 1925 sheets-sheet 5 FRA/vz /ErzfL BERGER July 26, 1927. 1,637,190

F. HETzl-:LBERGER SAFETY DEVICE FOR PORTABLE POWER OPERATED FIRE ESCAPES Filed Aug. 1925 v sheets-sheet 6 Jfttorn/eys July 2s 1927. l 7 190 F. HETZELBERGER- SAFETY DEVICE FOR PORTABLE POWER OPERATBD FIRE ESCAPES Filed Aug.29. 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 jwve/ntoc r) muy,

Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ HETZELBEBGER, F `ULM-O15T-'I'IIE-DCNAU GERMFNY, SSIGNOR T0 G. I). MIAGIRUS, AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF DONAU, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GER- MANY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOB PORTABLE POWER-OPERATED FIRE ESJCAIE'ES.`

Application iled August 29, 1925, Serial No. 53,443, and in Germany Hay `12, 1925'.

In power operated travelling or portable fire escapes, the gears operating the escapes or ladders, are automatically controlled in such a manner that they stop `the movement of the escape before `the tilting or vturningover limit is reached, to prevent upsetting the vehicle. In the known constructions the conditions on striking an obstacle during the extending, raising or inclining of t-he escape, are insulliciently taken into account.

The invention relates to a safety device for portable fire escapes which stops the operation of the gears also vin these cases, to prevent turning over of, or damage to, the vehicle and the escape. To this end. the trame or bed supporting the escape or ladder is resilientlv mounted on its turntable or .ring so that when the escape is overloaded, tor instance When it strikes an obstacle when being extended, raised, or inc-lined, it deviates from its normal position. and means are provided which due to this deviation operate to stop the operation of the gears.

Several constructions according tothe invention are illustrated by Way of `example in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows an escape supporting frame or bed in side elevation,

Figure 2 shows the same in rear elevation, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a detail view in section.

Figures 4, 5 and 5 show'moditied constructions.

Figure 6 is a detail view and Figure 7 a modification of the same.

Figures 8 to 12 are diagrams.' v

Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing the ladder elevating and extending mechanism.

The life saving apparatus or tire escape herein shown is generally similar tokthat described in the patent to Mayer No. 1,528,448, issuedv March 3, 1925, yand only such portions of the apparatus as are intimately related with the novel 'features of this invention will be described in detail herein, and for further information as to details of con struction of the escape reference may be had to the prior patent.

In general the apparatus comprises a frame 1 which carries and supports the escape or ladder'. The reference character A denotes generally a fluid pressure or hydraulic mechanism by means of which the ladder is operated. Projecting from the `the horizontal axis J From this construction, it will be apparent that theA ladder carrying member I may be moved about its horizontal supporting pivot in either direction by the rotation of shaft C. The driving Ashaft B is connected by chains or belts K and L to an elevating drum M, the movement of which is utilized to effect the extension or telescoping of the ladder. Neither the form of the extensible ladder or escape employed nor the connection between such element and lthe elevating drum M constitutes an essential part of the present invention, and, therefore, will be described only generally, it being understood that various extensible ladders may be employed to advantage and that the present form is shown for purposes of illustration only.

The ladder illustrated in Fig. 13 comprises plurality ot sections N, O, P, Q adapted to move telescopically with respect to each other. A wire rope or cable R secured to 'the extending drum is wound on and oit the drum when the latter'is rotated ina clockwise or counterclockwise direction `respectively. The free end of the cable Rpasses over a pulley S mounted near the top of the ladder section N, and is secured at the bottom of the second ladder section O. When the' cable is Wound up on the drum, the second ladder section which is slidably mounted on the irst ladder section willbe extended. The end of a second cable T is secured to 'the top ot' the ladder' `section N and passes over a pulley U mounted near the top of a second ladder section O and is secured to the bottom of the third section P. The extension of the second ladder sectionwill, by means of this cable, extend .the third section in a manner clearly understood. lThe end of a third cable V is secured tothe upi per end ofthe ladder sectionJCL4 passes over a [pulley W near the top'tof the third ladder' section, and issecured to the bottom of the y1fourthladderrseetion Q. j An upward move# i meng of. the ladderL section wi ll alsol move the section'Q in asimilar manner. Thus, the winding of the cable R on the drum M will eXtend-all'of 'the ladder sections. `When Y ipower is to be applied.

Theescape'supportlng frame or bed 1 is rotatablymounted on trunnions 6, in bear- 'ings 7 on anup'per turntable 2 which is mounted in an easily rotatable manner by meansfofjballs `4501i the lower ring 3. In

' order to Vprevent the lful'ipe'r ringer; turn- ,ta-ble 2 frombeingr lifted off tliefloive'rr ring 3, it is vprovided with abutments '5 ,iu'thc form of `rollers 'adapted toengagea circular `flange formed,uponftheupperledge ot the lower ring `3. rThe` escape supporting frame r1 is spaced a distance Strom the turntable 2 ,and is supported by pressure parts Qiand k10 slidably mountedin the turntable 2. The low'er endsofmembers 9 and 10 are formed inthe shape of `'knife edges, similar to balance beams, adapted to rest on doublefle- 4o vers 11', 12 which arefpivotally mounted on 'the turntable v`2"by meansot brackets or bearings 13,114. Thetree `entls115` ofthe "two double levers 11, v`12 arepro'vided "with slots 15 inwliich ismounted a pinl'. This pin" is mounted on arod 18 which is pivoted 'to a depending rod lteneloscd within a casing 162. A spring 16 surrounding the ro'd 1G is'provided Within the casing to' resist upward movement of the rod, the spring be- 5o ing arranged toabut against a washer on the lower end of therod and its upper endengages a-[stationary abutment" such las thc cover ofthe casing; Theoperation and construction ofthe gear operating'mechanism is 5f' described in detail yin the VMayer Patent 1,528,448 andsince such mechanism does not constitute an essential part of the present invention, akdetailed' description is not believed necessary in" this application. The

6U spring 16 is adjusted in such a manner that it balances the escape supporting 'frame l with the whole escape superstructure and the admissible load onthe escape. i The rod y18/is adapted to lact on levers'19, 2() ,of control Amembers 21, 22 whichare connected byfpipcs vwill stop.

56, 57, Figure" 3, to hydraulic couplings 54,

55 of'a gear by whicliare produced in the well-known manner the movements of thc escape (extending andk ralsmgl.

; In;normalconditions and: withindhe 4ad missible load limits, the levers 519,20; of the -control members :31, 22 are released by the In theeven't however of th'eesrapc being overloaded or ot it striking an obstacle,` so

that there is risk of the escape being upset or broken, the escape supporting frame' 1 will be slightlyldepressed at the ,side where the excess oi pressure has occurred'. byovercoming the Apressure of` the slning ltiby means ot the pressure parts Sl and l() and one of the levers 11 or 12, whilst the other lever 12 or 11 will ynot be moved owing totheslo` connection. The rod 18 will thereby become Vraised (seedotted lines in liigurc.` 1^) `and will turn the levers 19, 20 upii'ards and lock the control members 2l-and owingtn which the pressure medium `for operating the couplings and' of the gear. Figure 3, willbe cut oil', so that it u'illbe inipossibleto operate `t-he control mei'nbcrs 2l and- 22713)' hand, and the gears for operatingthe escape In the construction sliown; in Figure' 1l, the escapeysupporting frame l rigidly connectedfto the turntable Ibut 'tluvaluitments torni-cd by rollers 5, 'are secured to 11,.,

separate holding i-ingfl) =`4which. by incluis of springs 31 and pins rbsting agaii'ist the turntable 2, is held. in a springy manner against the turntable2 so that: it is, atf a distance 30 from tbe saine. On the holding,r

ring 29 are rotatably mounted in ibeatingsy 33, 34 about pins 3T, 38, levers 35, Bti 'which are further suspended to pins 3f), itl in bearings 41, 42 of the turntable .2. 'lhefflree ends of the two levers 35. 36 areconnected to the rod 18 acting. on the levei's 20 ot the control members 21, 22, by meanslof a slot-like guide 43, similar to that .in the con struction shown in Figure 1.' y

In the event of the escape beingover-` loadedor striking an obstacle, the turntable will be lifted off the lower ring 8, and the lever 35 4or 37 will turn upwards aboiityt' 01'38. owing to which the rod lfwillbe moved upwards and .willstopy the operation of the gears by means of the control meinbers 19, 20, 21 and 22.` t

In the construction shown in Figures .5 and 5, the escape supporting frameis also rigidly connected to the turntable2. The abutments 5' comprising` rollers secured* to the turntable 2, have ay given clearancel'or play 43 (seeFigure 5") tothe extent of which the turntable 2 ycan be lifted `ffom the lower ring 3. 2 On 4the tulutablefi?, in

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bearings 44 on pins 46 and and 45 arerotatably mounted 47, feeler levers 48 and 49 which by means of rollers 50 and 51 engage u surface of the ring 3. The free ends ot' the levers 48 and 49 are pivot-ally connected to each other by means of an oscillating lever 52, to the centre of which is pivoted the rod 18 which is surrounded by a spring 53 on the turntable 2. The 'remaining construction is the same as in Figure 1.

In the case of overload or shock, the turntable Q will be lifted from the lower ring 3 to the extent 43, owing to which one of the feeler levers 48 or 49 will be turned about the pin 46 or 47 with the shortaim down- Ward, and the long arm, and therefore, rod 18 upward.

Figure 6 shows on an enlarged scale the arrangement of the two control members operated by the rod 18, for extending and raising the escape by means of oil pressure operated gear, whilst in Figure 7 the rod 18 acts on a single main supply member 58. The pressure medium, tor instan'cc oil, is admitted at a and passes through the cock 59 which is connected by a lever 60 to the rod 18, into the pipe c or d, owing to which the couplings 54 and 55 of the gear of Figure 3 are switched in or out in the manner clearly illustrated in the Mayer patent previously referred to.

Figure 8 shows diagrammatically the maximum extension admissible for a given inclination of the escape. The gear stopping device must in this instance act in such a manner as to avoid any turning over of tilting of the escape by further extension or inclination. It the escape strikes an obstacle when being extended, laised and laid down within this prescribed limit, or in the case of strong wind shocks or other accidents, the tilting moment will be 3increased. vThe devices shown in Figure 1-7 then effect the stopping or' the gears operating the escape, in order to avoid an accident or breakage of the escape.

Figure 9 shows diagrammatically the load proportion and the method of operation of the gear stopping mechanism in the case of the escape 61 being extended and inclined too much, as well as in the case of wind shocks and like overloads.

Figure 10 shows the load and the method of working in the case of striking an obstacle 62 when heilig extended. i

Figure l1 shows the conditions due to striking a projection in raising, and Figure 12 due to striking an obstacle in lowering.

Having now particularly described anel ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what l claim is 1. A salvaging apparatus having an extensible ladder, a frame for supporting said ladder, a support for said frame, operating mechanism for extending and telescoping said ladder, operating mechanism for elevating and lowering said ladder, and means operated by movementot the supporting trame out of its normal position tor stopping said operating' mcchanisn'is.

2. A salvaging apparatus luiving an extensible ladder, a 'trame tor supporting the ladder, a. rotary table 'for supporting the frame, a spring ior holding the vtrame in its normal position, means operated by the movement ot the trame against the spring out of its normal position to arrest the operating mechanism.l

3. A salvaging apparatus having an extensible ladder, a iframe for supporting the ladder, a rotary table for supporting the trame, operating mechanism toi-'extending and telescoping said ladder, mechanism for elevating and lowering said ladder, means tor controllingl said operating inechanisn'is, a movable element adapted Vto actuate the controlling members, means 'for moving the said movable element out ot engagement with the controlling means when the Yframe is in its normal position, and means for moving the movable element into engagement with the controlling elements upon movement of the frame out of its normal position.

4. A tire escape apparatus having an eX- tensible ladder, a support, a frame for said ladder mounted upon said support, means for retaining said 'trame upon said support, said means permitting a slight relative movement between said frame and said support, means resisting movement between the frame and said support, mechanism for extending and telescoping the ladder, mechanism for elevating and lowering the ladder, means actuated by movement of the :trame rela-tive to the support when the said resisting means is overcome to prevent actuation of said mechanisms.

5. A fire escape having a ladder, a support, a trame for said ladder mounted upon sald support, connections between said frame and said support for retaining the iframe upon said support while permitting a slight movement of the frame relative to Isaid support, means for retaining said trame in a normal position upon said support and adapted to resist relative movement between the frame and the support, power operated mechanism for operating said ladder, means for controlling said power operated mechanism, and connections between said controlling means and said frame whereby the operating mechanism is arrested when the frame and ladder move relative to said support.

6. A fire escape having a ladder, a support, a rotatable turntable mounted upon said support, a trame for said ladder mountoperating "ed upon said turntable and arranged to have a limited amount of movement with respect thereto, means for holding the frame in a normal position upon said turntable and resisting relative movement between the frame and the table, the said means including aplurality of levers pivoted upon the bottom of said turntable, a spring connected to the inner' ends of said levers, slidable members contacting with the outer ends of said levers, and projecting through said turntable into engagement with a portion of said frame, and a movable member adapted to control the actuation of said opera-ting mechanism, the said controlling member being connected to the inner end of said levers. t

7. A tire escape having an extensible ladder, al support, a rotatable turntable mounted upon Said support, means for retaining said table on said support, a frame carrying ladder mounted upon .the upper face of said turntable and arranged to permit a limited amount of movement relative to the turntable, mechanism for extending and telescop- 2.5 ing the ladder, mechanism for elevating and lowering the-ladder, and,means for automatically arresting the operation of the Aextending or inclinin `mechanisms when the stability of the lad er is endangered by an overload on the ladder, or when the ladder 4strikes an obstacle, the said means includi ing oppositely arranged members slidably mounted in saidt-urntablein the path of a portion of said frame, levers pivotedi upon the lower surface ofsaid table, the outer ends of said levers supporting the lower ends of said sliding members, a rod depend-` ing from the inner ends of said levers, a spring surrounding said rod adapted to resist upward movement of the inner ends of said levers, ay movable member having its upper end arranged to engage a.` portion of the inclining and extending mechanism so as to prevent the actuation thereof when moving in an upward direction, the lower end of said movable member being con- .nccted to the inner end yof said levers.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

FRANZ HETZELBERGER. 

